Submarine hammer-drill unit



Dec. 14,1926. 1,610,372

C. C. HANSEN SUBMARINE HAMMER DRILL UNIT il August 24.. 1925 S Sheets-Sheet 1 Tfo' Y.

HAS A Dec. 14, 1926.

C. C. HANSEN SUBMARINE HIjKMMER DRILL UNIT Filed August 24 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 yaw v Q T Q ifhmflr/ v UN I INVENTOR;

' (770ml gl' 'llanselz.

* BY 6 y i!// H18 ATT 1 NEY c. c. HANSEN SUBMARI NE HAMMER DRILL UNIT Dec. 14, 1926,

Filed August 24 25 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. (ZHdnden.

(hauled Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

umrao STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. HANSEliT, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, AS SIGNOR TO INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

JSUBMARINE HAMMER-DRILL UNIT.

Application filed August 24, 1925. Serial no; 52.136.

This invention relates to submarine drills,

but more particularly to a submarine hammer drill unit, in which a fluid actuated rock drill of the hammer type is lowered into the water and effects the drilling operations while submerged. The rock drill may be raised for changing steels as the depth of the drilled hole increases, and the entire operation of submarine drilling is carried out by substantially the same mode of operation which obtains on land with drills of the hammer type.

The objects of the invention are to obviate the great length of steel required with ordinary submarine drills of the percussive or reciprocating piston type, commonly known as piston drills in which the drill steel is connected to the piston, as distinguished from hammer drills in which the hammer piston strikes the drill steel, avoid the necessity of high towers on the drill barge, reduce the weight of the drilling units, lighten the labor of the drill operators and simplify and cheapen the cost of the entire operation of submarine drilling.

To all these ends the invention is shown in one of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, in whichlowered into the mud guard or protective Figure 1 is a .side elevation partly broken away and partly in section showing a portion of a barge having submarine hammer drills mounted thereon. Three positions of the drill steel are shown;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the barge and machines shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is anenlarged detail sectional elevation partly broken away showing the submarine hammer' drill cylinder and including the rotation mechanism for the drill steel and the submarine front head bell. In this view the drill steel is in the act of being shield which is projected through the loose material and broken rock down to the sub merged rock or hard material layer to be drilled;

Figure at is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view partly broken away taken on line l-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail "side elevation of the, vertically slidable drilling element or frame carrying the hammer drill and rotation mechanism;

Figure 6 is an endyiew of the drilling elev may be guided on the guides.

ment shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation partly broken away of a modification showing the hammer cylinder provided with. a lug chuck to take lagged steel,

Referrin to the drawings, the barge only a portlonof whichis shown, may be" of any suitable orfnsual construction for'submarine drillingi and is adapted mime mounted thereon one or more submarine drilling units B as shown in Figured, in this instance three being shown, and each unit being provided with the submarine rock drill C of the hammer type adapted, to be subs.

merged in the water D during the operation. of drilling. The loose material and broken rock usually lined in'the bed of a river or on the bed of any bodyof'water is repre-- sented at E and the rock or hard material to be drilled is represented at F.

The barge A may be provided with the usual shed or housing orseveral sheds or housings'G for sheltering the usual compressors, engines, pumps, implements and tools required for'submarine drilling, although, for purposes of simplicity, these particular engines and machines are not shown, it being understood that, the rock drills C forming a part of this invention are preferably adapted to be operated by motive fluid, as for instance compressed air, in which case a compressor 'or compressors would be required. Y i

Each submarine drilling unit of the hammer type, as shown, is provided with a mainpoints a, to form guides for the drilling elementor frame K shown separately in Figures 5 and 6, which element or drilling frame is slidable vertically on the guides J, but is preferably of suflicient length so that the upper end of the drilling frame remains out of water andis never submerged during the operation of drilling.

The guides J are conveniently secured to the channels L forming a partof the main frame H and the drilling frame is formed with the side platesO and cross braces P to which angle irons Q are secured, thus forming guide channels into which the guide plates J extend so that the drilling fi ame reciprocating hammer able front head T containing the chuck parts which is A fluid actuated rock drill of the hammer type is suitably secured to=;the lower end of of rotation mechanism for thedrillfsteel U steel, and a bell V into: which the exhaust of the rock drill passes through the exhaust passage W in-any suitablemanner so that water is prevented from] entering, the rock drill parts. The hammer1 :pisteii; may be operated automaticallyin 'any suit'able manner, as 'is customary with hammer drills, in this instance live pressure fluid being; supplied to the rearward end'of thecylinder B- through the port 10 leading from the valve chamber'12 for driving the piston forwardly and issupplied to the forward end of the cylinder through the passage 13 for driving the piston rearwardly, while the exhaustpasses forwardly through the exhaust ipassage W. Any suitable valve (not shown) maybe provided in the valve chamber 12, since these elements form no part of the present invention. pipe Y is understood to be controlled by any suitable form of main valve, to turn on and off the airfrom the main line, andthe rock drill itself would be provided with the usual throttle '(not shown) for controlling the starting and-stopping of the operation of the hammer piston. The efliciency of the sub- 7 marine hammer piston is maintained by opstart the drill alone.

erating at higher air pressure from the sup-' ply than on land, due to the back pressure.

It willalso be observed that the chuck cavity into which the shank of the drill steel extends is subject to exhaust pressure bein keeping water out of the rock drill.- A small bleeder port X is also preferablyformed inthe cylinder R leading from the pressure supply pipe'Y andvalve chamber 12 to the exhaust passage W so that live pressure fluid is constantly supplied to the bell which aids in keeping the water out vof the rock drill parts as the machine is being.

lowered beneath the water and before the drill starts in operation and during submergence and operation. The air through the small bleeder port-X is not sufficient to Cleansing water is supplied to the rock drill in the usual manner through the water supply pipe Z and water tube 7) which pipes are adapt ed, to be carried in any suitable manner to the drill barge A as for. instance, through hose pipes and there supplied with air and water respectively under pressure. The drilling frame K is adapted to be raised and referably a hollow steel so that cleansing uid may be sup lied through the- The pressure fluid supply lowered by means of the rope or cable 0 pass-- ing upwardly over the sheave d at the top of the main ffame H' and connected to be operated by any suitable winding engine a having the frame 7". .This lifting and lowerin'gcable 0 may be connected to one'of the plates P of the drilling frame at the oint A supplemental frame formed-by there 3 h and the foot piece 7' to which the rods are suitably co-nnected is vertically slidable in P as by meansof the bolts 0 shown particularly nected to the foot piece 7' of the supplemental frame at the point g passes upwardl over a small winding engine 1' of'any suita le type supported from the main frame H as shown in Figure 2. so that the drilling frame orelement K and the supplemental frame formed by the members it and j are independently vertically movable and adjustable. The supplemental frame carries a tubular mud guard or protective shield s which is adapted to be forced through the loose or broken material E on. top of the rock F for the urpose of protecting the drill steel and the ole to be drilled. By reason of the construction described a convenientmethod of forcing or driving t e mud guard 8 down into the rock is that indicated in Figure l'in which the in Figure 4.. A rope or cable p con-- supplemental frame is first lowered until the mud guard is within the material E and then the drilling frame K is lowered until the weight of the frame and the parts carried thereby res'ts'upon the foot piece 7'. A short length of drill steel U preferably projects through the mud guard s as shown in the drill unit at the left hand side of Figure 1. The operation of, the hammer drill is then started and cleansing water is at the same time forced down through the drill steel through the pipe Z. The weight of the drilling frame and its parts together with the vibration caused by the operation of the hammer together with the cleansin effect of the water forced down through the drill steel will quickly drive or thrust the mud guard through the loose-or broken material E until the mud guard rests upon hard surface or rock F to be drilled. The drilling frame is then raised and a longer drill steel inserted and again lowered for the operation of drilling the hole as indicated in the central drilling unit in Figure 1. The drilling unit at the right hand side of Figure 1 indicatesthe drilled hole as about completeddt being assumed that the longest-length of drill steel U necessary for this purpose has been used.-

In orderthat the rotation of the drill steel may be at all times observed from a point 75 the brackets it carried by the main frame H and conveniently secured to the guide plates at the lower end meshing with the rotation; ear a: on the chucky into which the shank {1. this'meansf 1; always visible from drill steel sticks the nected by the rop i I steel is released. 1 2o ing' effected.

a pressure fluid motor or an electric motor or one of any other suitable type and is moved up and down together with the drilling' frame; Suitable o erative connections are provided between t e rotation motor t and the rotation mechanism located in the front head of the rock drill and for this purpose a rod or shaft the upper end and provided with'a pinion w of the drill steel U extends. B the rotating shaft'or rod to and t e motor are factand can cease always-knows whether or, not'drilling isb In Figure 3 a collared drill st e 5 shown havingv the collar 2 and means are provided in the form of rocking clamps 3 for clamp-.

These clam s are seing the drill steel.

4 on the bell cured to the pivots provided with which leads to a suit- A so that the drill able point on the barge steel clamp maybe set or released as desired by hand.

I In the'modifica-tionshown in Figure 7 a turning the rock drill which Leyner chuck of adapted to receive a lug steel having the lugs 7 so that the drill steel clamp is unnecessary-- and the drill steel is released b slightly may e effected in any suitable manner as by twisting the rotating shaft or reversing the motor t.

I claim:

1. In a submarine hammer drillunit, the combination of a main frame having guides, a vertically movable drilling element on said guides comprising a drilling frame, a hammer drill cylinder secured to the lower end of said movable drilling frame and adapted to be submerged for drilling purposes, a fluid actuated hammer piston reciprocating in said cylinder adapted to impart blows of impact to a drill steel, and means for utilizing the exhaust from the hammer drill for preventing water from entering the cylinder and front head parts while submerged.

2. In a submarine hammer drill unit, the combination of a main frame having guides, a vertically movable drilling element on said guides comprising a drilling frame, a fluid actuated rock drill of the hammer type secured to the lower end of said drilling frame,

3. In a submarine hammer drilllunit, the

u may be conveniently provided operated by-the motorzggearS v "entering the cylinder and while submerged.-' =l 4. In a submarine hammer drill unit, the. combination of a main frame having guides, vertically movable drilling element on, saidv the barge A and if the guldescomprising a drilling frame, a fluid.

operator is aware of the drilling until the drill curedto the lowerend of said drilling frame, r

L, a bell at the front end of-said roc'k dri'll in- 3 a o whichthe rockdrill exhausts to reven-t' water from entering ll submerged and addit onal means for contin- Furthermore, the" operator;

andare levers 5 outside the bell-on the rock. drill is shown,

in said cylinder adapte im act to a drill steel, a'bell at the front: en of said drill cylinder into which the a vertically movable drilling element on sai guides comprising a drilling frame, a hammer drillcylinder' secured to the lower end of said movable drilling frame and adapted to be submergedfor drilling purposes, a'"

fluid actuated hammer-piston reciprocating in said cylinder adapted "to -impart blows of. impactto adrill steel, and a bell atthe front-"end of said drill cylinder into which,

the cylinder exhausts to prevent water from actuated rock, drill of the hammer type se the rock dri into said bell.

" In asubmarine hammerdrill unit, the

combination of a main frame havingguides, a vertically movable drilling element onsaid guides comprising a drilling frame, a hammer drill cylinder secured to the loweren'd of said movable drilling frame and adaptedv to be submerged for drilling purposes, a

fluid actuated hammer dpiston reciprocating,

cylinder exhausts to prevent water from en.- tering the. cylinder and front head parts 'while submerged, and additional means for to said supplemental frame and locatedbelow the drilling frame, said mudguard being front head parts to impart blows ofwhile adapted to-rest directly upon and besupported by therock or material to be drilled, and adrill steel adapted to project through said mud guard and removable rearwardly throughtbe mud guard, whereby the mud guard maybe forced through the loose bottom material down upon the solid rock to be drilled by permitting the weight of the drilling frame to initially rest, upon the supplemental frame while the rock drill is submerged.

7. In a submarine hammer drill unit, the combination of a main frame having guides,

a vertically movable drilling element on said guides comprising a drilling frame, a fluid actuated rock drill of the haminer type secured to the lower end of said drilling frame and adapted to be bodily submerged for drilling purposes, a vertically movable supplemental frame carried by said main frame, a tubular mud guard or protective shield secured to said supplemental frame and located below the drilling frame, said -mud guard being adapted to rest directly steel being'hollow, and means for supplying cleansing water under pressure to said drill steel for clearing mud and dirt out of the mud guard while said guard is being forced down to the rock bottom to be drilled and during drilling operation.

8. Ina submarine hammer drill unit, the combination of a main frame having guides, a vertically movable drilling element on said guides comprising a drilling frame, a hammer drill cylinder secured to the lower end of said movable drilling frame and adapted to be submerged for drilling purposes, a fluid actuated hammer piston reciprocating in said cylinder, a vertically movable supplemental frame carried by said main .frame, a tubular mud guard or protective shield secured to said supplemental frame and located below the drilling frame, said mud guard being adapted to rest directly upon and be supported by the rock or material to be drilled, and a drill steel adapted to project through said mud guard and removable rearwardly through the mud guard, whereby the mud guard may be forced through the loose bottom material down upon the solid rock to be dri ed by permitting the weight of the drillnig frame to initially rest upon the supplemental frame while the rock drill is submerged.

9. In a submarine hammer drill unit, the combination of a main frame having guides, a vertically movable drilling element on said guides com 'irising a drilling frame, a hammer drill cylinder secured to the lower end of said movable drilling frame and adapted to be submerged for drilling pur poses, a fluid actuated hammer piston reciprocating in said cylinder, a vertically movable supplemental frame carried by said main frame, a tubular mud guard or protective shield secured to said supplemental frame and located below the drilling frame, said mud guard being adapted to rest directly upon and be supported by the rock or material to be drilled, a drill steel adapted to project through said mud guard and removable rearwardly through the mud guard, whereby the mud guard may be forced through the loose bottom material down upon the solid rock to be drilled by permitting the weight of the drilling frame to initially rest upon the supplemental frame while therock drill is submerged, said drill steel being hollow, .and means for supplying cleansing water under pressure to said drill steel for clearing mud and dirt out of the mudguard while said guard is being forced down to the rock bottom to be drilled and during drilling operation.

10. In a submarine hammer drill unit, the combination of a main frame having guides, a vertically movable-drilling element on said guides comprising a drilling frame, a hammer drill cylinder secured to the lower end of said movable drilling frame and adapted to be bodily submerged for drilling purposes, a fluid actuated hammer piston recipfocating in said cylinder adapted to impart blows of impact to a drill steel, and means for utilizing the exhaust from the hammer drill for preventing Water from entering the cylinder and front head parts while submerged, and independent means for rotating the drill steel having portions constantly visible from above the surface of the water in which the rock drill-is submerged, whereby the operator may constantly observe from the surface the operation of drilling under water.

11. In a submarine hammer drill unit, the combination of a main frame having guides, a vertically movable drilling element on said guides comprising a drilling frame, a fluid actuated rock drill of the hamn'ier typesecured to the lower end of said drilling frame, said rock drill including a hammer cylinder and reciprocating fluid actuated piston, a separable front head containing rotation mechanism, and a separable bell forwardly of the front head into which the rock drill exhausts to prevent water from entering the rock drill while submerged.

Intestimony whereof I have signed this specification.

CHARLES C. Hansen. 

